Glen Lake boys basketball (13-1) defeated Suttons Bay (7-8) 81-47 Tuesday in a Northwest Conference rivalry game.
The Lakers and Norsemen battled throughout the first quarter before Glen Lake marched its way to a 36-point victory.
Glen Lake senior Benji Allen led with 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
“We’re doing a good job of sharing the ball with other people and running the court; fast break equals easy points,” Allen said.
Laker center Jacob Plamondon dominated in the paint with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Another guard, Isaac Hlavka, also had a day with 10 points. Wade Daniels went off with three 3-points for nine points.
“I think defense will make a difference, playing team basketball and putting in work every day and stacking days,” Hlavka said. Glen Lake senior Colebrook Sutherland scored eight points, and Toby Bradford scored six.
The Lakers are on the cusp of capturing another Northwest Conference Championship.
The Lakers were attacking inside and outside and couldn’t be stopped.
In 14 games this season, Plamondon has been putting up big numbers and breaking records. In January, he set a school record with 49 points against Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. He’s averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds per game. But for Plamondon, the stats could mean less regarding the bigger picture.
“We’re trying to get to our goal (the Breslin), and so that’s what we’re trying to reach, .. We have to keep our chemistry up, keep working hard, and don’t come in with a big head thinking that we’re going to win … it’s going to be a fight. It always is,” Plamondon said.
Urijah TwoCrow had 10 points, three steals, and two blocks for the Norsemen. Suttons Bay senior Grayson Opie chipped in eight points and six rebounds, while Zachariah Raphael had seven and six rebounds.
The Lakers have not lost since Dec. 20 against Frankfort. During the 10-game win streak, the Lakers won by less than 10 in two games: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (90-85) and Benzie Central (65-58).
Glen Lake will play Leland (1-12) tonight at 7 p.m. before squaring off against Walled Lake Western (5-11) in the Northern Michigan Showcase Saturday at noon.
If all goes well, Glen Lake could play for a conference championship at Benzie on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
Suttons Bay will take on Benzie tonight at 7 p.m.
The Norsemen dominantly defeated Brethren Thursday 47-27.
The Norsemen went up 40-16 in the fourth quarter thanks to an impressive defensive night.
Opie led Suttons Bay with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. TwoCrow had nine points, seven assists, and four steals, while Nick McCormick had nine points, five rebounds, and three assists.
The weather continued to impact games over the weekend and Monday.
Lakers defeat Panthers
The Lakers left no doubt, avenging a December loss against Frankfort (5-5) Thursday 53-41.
Glen Lake now sits atop the Northwest Conference.
A dominant Laker third-quarter run sparked by a furious fast-break dunk by Glen Lake senior Benji Allen proved the difference as the Lakers went into the fourth quarter up 42-29.
“We knew we had to come out on fire at halftime,” Bradford said. “Coach (Todd) Hazelton always says that the first three minutes will set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Frankfort didn’t go down without a fight, cutting a Laker double-digit lead to within five points late in the fourth quarter.
Glen Lake and Frankfort split the season series after the Panthers defeated the Lakers 49-42 in December.
“Kids played hard,” Frankfort coach Dan Loney said. “Had an opportunity to win it down the stretch. Ball didn’t bounce our way.”
After a sluggish first quarter for both teams, offenses came alive in the second quarter as Glen Lake junior Jacob Plamondon attacked inside, and Frankfort senior Tristin Griffin hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
“We had intensity attacking the ball,” Plamondon said. “We let off a little late in the third quarter and at the start of the fourth, but then we started getting back into it. ... We were in a battle.”
Plamondon led all scorers with 28 points and 17 rebounds.
Allen chipped in eight points and two rebounds, and Keaton LaCross scored six points and four assists.
Glen Lake seniors Michael Houtteman and Isaac Hlavka were all over the court, combining seven points, two rebounds, and five assists.
“(Frankfort) is our rival school, and we got it together and got the job done,” Houtteman said.
Griffin led the Panthers with 17 points, Carter Kerby had 11, and Frankfort guard Eli Lietaert had eight.
Eagles win Homecoming Lake Leelanau St. Mary boys basketball defeated Bear Lake 51-41 during Homecoming Friday.
The Eagles were led by a dominant performance from Josh Bunek with 23 points and 13 rebounds. St. Mary junior Oliver Mitchel added 11 points and six rebounds, and James Bunek had nine points and three rebounds. St. Mary senior Luke Bramer facilitated the whole game with six points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The Eagles play TC Christian today at 7 p.m.
Bears slide by Comets
Leland boys basketball fell to Buckley 48-35 Tuesday.
The Bears had their star guard Landon Kulawiak break a school record with 29 points and 18 rebounds to eclipse 1,835 points.
The Comets take on Glen Lake tonight before traveling to Brethren Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
